“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves,
it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Ephesians 2:8, 9
I heard a story of a Third Grade Sunday School teacher.
Every Sunday, the man had the class act out the lesson, read the work, draw, write and talk about the lesson. One disruptive boy always kicked the teacher in the shin when he could, because he didn’t want to be in class. That boy didn’t deserve to be treated with love and respect, but the man kept kneeling down, telling him not to kick others, then hugged and disciplined him.
Twenty years later, the boy returned to church and hugged his Third Grade teacher. Why?
The teacher’s grace was the avenue for the boy to receive Jesus Christ into his heart as his Lord and Savior. The boy didn’t deserve grace, but he got it. Are you doing what Jesus would do? Giving grace and helping others learn about their relationship with God?
We cannot work our way into heaven, but we accept His gift for us and we can help others do the same.